Senior UX/UI (Product) Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (UX/UI)

Company: VML Enterprise Solutions

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Job Type: Full-time Permanent

Category: Product Design (UX/UI)

Date Posted: April 21, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior to Senior (5-10 years estimated)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive best-in-class user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design for digital products and services, focusing on engagement and conversion.

• Lead design thinking and problem-solving within complex, ambiguous environments, translating user needs and business objectives into impactful solutions.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including strategists, developers, and account managers, to deliver high-quality digital experiences.

• Manage and influence senior stakeholders, articulating design rationale, trade-offs, and recommendations with strong communication and storytelling.

• Operate autonomously and lead design initiatives, often with evolving requirements, ensuring end-to-end design ownership from discovery to polished execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer (UX/UI) with an estimated 5-10 years of experience based on the emphasis on autonomous leadership, complex problem-solving, and stakeholder management. The hybrid nature suggests a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility, typical for modern design roles within enterprise solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for digital products and services, from initial discovery and user journey mapping to high-fidelity UI execution.

• Define and refine interaction models, visual designs, micro-interactions, and component behaviors to ensure a cohesive and purposeful user experience.

• Shape product direction by framing problems, identifying opportunities, and leveraging user research and data insights.

• Work with complex, tokenized design systems, understanding component architecture, variants, properties, and scalable design patterns.

• Adapt design approaches across diverse clients, sectors, and levels of design maturity, maintaining brand consistency and quality.

• Produce high-quality supporting design artifacts, including interactive prototypes, presentations, and visual assets for stakeholder alignment and communication.

• Translate user research and analytics data into actionable insights to inform design decisions and build stakeholder confidence.

• Ensure adherence to accessibility standards, conversion principles, and user-centered design best practices throughout the design lifecycle.

• Collaborate within a hybrid work environment, balancing pace and quality while managing multiple workstreams and priorities.

• Contribute to a data-driven design culture, utilizing A/B testing results and performance metrics to optimize user flows and product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities are inferred from the detailed "What you'll be doing" and "What we want from you" sections. The role demands a proactive, end-to-end designer capable of strategic contribution and detailed execution, indicating a significant level of autonomy and influence within project teams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level product design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Significant professional experience (estimated 5-10 years) in UX/UI and product design, with a demonstrable track record of leading design initiatives and delivering successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to work autonomously and lead design within complex, fast-paced environments with evolving requirements.

• Strong experience in stakeholder management, with the ability to challenge, influence, and align senior stakeholders across disciplines.

• Demonstrated ability to frame problems, define opportunities, and shape product direction.

• Proven ability to operate as a true end-to-end product designer, seamlessly transitioning between UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

• Experience working with complex, tokenized design systems and understanding component architecture.

• Solid understanding of responsive design principles and behavior logic.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma, including creating scalable, well-structured design files.

• Experience working across multiple brands and visual identities, adapting design approach while maintaining consistency.

• Ability to produce high-quality supporting design artifacts (prototypes, presentations, visual assets).

• Expertise in translating user research and data into actionable insights.

• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and trade-offs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in defining and optimizing user journeys and interaction models.

• Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies.

• Experience in Agile development environments and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Knowledge of design thinking methodologies and facilitation.

• Experience with various design and prototyping tools beyond Figma.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate effective handoffs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" are directly extracted from the provided "What we want from you" section. The "Preferred Skills" are inferred based on common industry expectations for a senior product designer role and the mention of "enterprise solutions" and "digital transformation."

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating your ability to handle complex and ambiguous problem spaces.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes (e.g., engagement, conversion improvements).

• Examples of UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution within a single project.

• Demonstrations of experience with complex, tokenized design systems, including component architecture and scalable patterns.

• Evidence of creating and utilizing supporting design artifacts such as interactive prototypes, user journey maps, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your approach to user research and data analysis, including how you translate findings into actionable design insights.

• Illustrate your process for stakeholder management, including how you challenge, influence, and align senior stakeholders.

• Detail your methodology for working with design systems, including contribution, maintenance, and scalability considerations.

• Provide examples of how you ensure design consistency and quality across different platforms and devices through responsive design principles.

• Demonstrate your proficiency in Figma, including file structure, collaboration features, and handover processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are tailored to a senior product designer role, emphasizing end-to-end ownership, complex systems, and stakeholder influence, as inferred from the job description's emphasis on autonomous leadership and problem-solving within enterprise contexts.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior Product Designer (UX/UI) title, estimated 5-10 years of experience, and location in Lisbon, Portugal, a competitive salary range would be between €45,000 - €65,000 annually. This range is based on research of senior UX/UI designer salaries in major European tech hubs, adjusted for the Portuguese market and considering the company's affiliation with WPP, a large global agency network. The specific salary will depend on the candidate's experience, skills, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Discretionary bonus scheme

• Comprehensive training opportunities for skill development

• Competitive pension plan

• Medical insurance coverage

• Life assurance policy

• Regular social events fostering team cohesion

• Opportunities to buy and sell holidays for flexible time management

• Family-friendly policies to support work-life balance

• Discounts with hundreds of retailers

Working Hours: Full-time, with the provided information suggesting a standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in structuring the work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry benchmarks for senior UX/UI designers in Portugal, considering the provided experience level and the company's global standing. The benefits list is directly extracted from the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising (specifically via WPP's affiliation) and Technology/Enterprise Solutions. VML is a leading creative company focusing on brand experience, customer experience, and commerce. Their Enterprise Solutions division specifically focuses on delivering digital experiences across various market routes for major organizations.

Company Size: Part of WPP, a global network with over 26,000 employees. VML Enterprise Solutions itself has over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centers across 34 countries, indicating a very large and globally distributed organization. This size offers stability and a vast network of resources but may also mean navigating larger corporate structures.

Founded: VML was formed through the merger of VML and Wunderman Thompson in 2024, building on the legacies of their founding companies. WPP itself was founded in 1982. This history suggests a company with deep roots in the industry, a blend of established practices and a forward-looking approach to innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Enterprise Solutions division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects, and skilled developers and operators. This implies a highly specialized, multidisciplinary team structure.

• The Senior Product Designer will likely report into a Design Lead or Head of Design within the Enterprise Solutions division, with close collaboration with project managers, strategists, developers, and client partners.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is emphasized, with designers expected to translate user research and data into actionable insights.

• User-centricity is a core tenet, guiding the design of digital products and services.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed, given the fast-paced environment and cross-functional team structure.

• Focus on creating "connected brands" and "connected experiences" across various customer touchpoints.

Company Website: https://www.vml.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company culture and team structure details are synthesized from the provided text, inferring how a Senior Product Designer would fit within such a large, global, and specialized agency division. The emphasis on "connected brands" and "enterprise solutions" suggests a strategic and integrated approach to design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior Product Designer (UX/UI), indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires significant autonomy, leadership in design initiatives, and the ability to influence stakeholders and product direction. This level is crucial for bridging strategic vision with detailed execution.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director within the Enterprise Solutions division. They will work closely with project teams, product managers, developers, and client stakeholders, acting as a design lead within these collaborations.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact is direct and significant, shaping the user experience and interface of digital products that drive customer engagement, conversion, and loyalty for major global brands. This role directly influences client success and VML's reputation for delivering outstanding digital experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to advance into Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Design roles, managing teams and setting design strategy.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, accessibility, conversion optimization, or emerging technologies within commerce.

• Cross-Disciplinary Experience: Exposure to strategy, development, and client management can lead to broader roles in product management or digital transformation consulting.

• Global Exposure: Working with diverse international clients and teams provides a broad perspective and opportunities for international assignments.

• Continuous Learning: Access to training opportunities, industry conferences, and the chance to work with cutting-edge tools and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career and growth analysis is based on the seniority of the role and the structure of a large global agency. The emphasis on "enterprise solutions" and "commerce" suggests growth paths related to digital transformation and large-scale platform development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with options to work from Lisbon, Porto, or Faro offices in Portugal. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, with access to necessary tools and resources, alongside the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Lisbon, Porto, or Faro, Portugal. These are major cities offering good infrastructure and accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative spaces designed to facilitate interaction between designers, developers, strategists, and client teams.

• Access to industry-standard design software and hardware, including advanced Figma capabilities.

• Opportunities for informal knowledge sharing and cross-pollination of ideas among a large team of experts.

• A blend of focused individual work time (potentially remote) and collaborative team sessions in the office.

Work Schedule: Full-time, standard 40-hour work week, with the hybrid arrangement offering flexibility in how and where these hours are structured. This allows for efficient management of design tasks and cross-functional communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are inferred from the "hybrid" status and the mention of specific office locations in Portugal, suggesting a balanced approach to work flexibility and in-office collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and fit with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, detailing their process, design rationale, and impact on projects. Expect in-depth questions about UX strategy, UI execution, design system usage, and stakeholder management.

• Skills-Based Challenges: Potential for a design challenge or case study, either take-home or conducted during an interview, to assess problem-solving abilities, design thinking, and Figma proficiency.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (e.g., strategists, developers, project managers) to evaluate collaboration style and cultural fit.

• Stakeholder Interview: Discussion with senior stakeholders to assess influence, communication skills, and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to narrate a clear problem, your unique contribution, the design process, challenges overcome, and quantifiable results.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Include high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and examples of your design system work.

• Highlight End-to-End Process: Demonstrate your ability to move seamlessly from UX strategy and research to detailed UI execution.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement, task completion times) to showcase the business value of your design solutions.

• Explain Your "Why": Be prepared to articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, including trade-offs and considerations.

• Tailor to VML: Research VML's work, clients, and values (Heart, Brains, Courage) to align your portfolio presentation with their ethos.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, carefully analyze the requirements, target audience, and business goals.

• Embrace Ambiguity: Be prepared to make assumptions and define problem spaces if requirements are incomplete, demonstrating your ability to navigate real-world scenarios.

• Focus on Process: Articulate your thought process clearly, even if you don't reach a "perfect" solution within the allotted time.

• Present Concisely: Structure your presentation logically and deliver it with confidence, focusing on key insights and solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is structured based on standard practices for senior design roles in agencies, emphasizing practical application, strategic thinking, and communication skills, with specific advice tailored to VML's context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a core requirement for creating scalable, well-structured design files, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in Figma's prototyping capabilities, and potentially other tools like InVision, Axure, or Adobe XD for advanced interactions and presentations.

• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to complex, tokenized design systems, understanding component architecture, variants, and properties.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Qualtrics).

• Analytics Tools: Familiarity with how to interpret data from tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or product-specific analytics platforms to inform design decisions.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to understand and interpret data presented in dashboards or reports from tools like Tableau or Power BI to inform design strategy.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for this UX/UI role, understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, Pardot) can be beneficial for context.

• Familiarity with enterprise-level platforms and how user experiences are implemented across various digital channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack are derived directly from the job description's emphasis on Figma and design systems. Other tools are inferred based on the "enterprise solutions" context and the need for user research and data analysis.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Heart: Fosters empathy and trust, leading to genuine connections and human-centric work. For designers, this means advocating for the user with empathy and building strong collaborative relationships.

• Brains: Values relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence to solve complex challenges. Designers are expected to be innovative, analytical, and open to learning and sharing knowledge.

• Courage: Inspires speaking up, embracing experimentation, and advocating for bold solutions. Designers should be willing to challenge the status quo, propose innovative ideas, and defend their design choices.

• Data-Driven: Emphasis on translating user research and data into actionable insights, driving informed design decisions and demonstrating impact.

• Efficiency & Quality: Balancing pace and quality while managing multiple workstreams, indicating a culture that values both speed and excellence in delivery.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration across UX, UI, strategy, development, and client management teams is essential.

• Open Communication: Strong communication and storytelling skills are valued for articulating design rationale and trade-offs.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture that encourages constructive feedback and iterative improvement, particularly within design and development cycles.

• Knowledge Sharing: Expected to share insights from user research, data analysis, and design best practices within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are directly extracted from the "Our culture thrives on our core values" section, with specific interpretations provided for how these values apply to a Senior Product Designer role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working autonomously in fast-paced environments with evolving or incomplete requirements requires strong problem-framing and adaptability.

• Stakeholder Management: Influencing and aligning senior stakeholders across diverse disciplines and potentially varying levels of design maturity can be challenging.

• Balancing Pace and Quality: Operating within BAU and retained delivery models requires efficient time management and the ability to maintain high standards under pressure.

• Multi-Brand Adaptation: Consistently delivering high-quality, on-brand experiences across a variety of clients and visual identities demands versatility and strong brand stewardship.

• Complex Design Systems: Effectively working with and contributing to intricate, tokenized design systems requires deep technical understanding and meticulous attention to detail.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone expertise in UX strategy, interaction design, UI execution, and design system architecture.

• Industry Trends: Exposure to cutting-edge digital experiences, commerce solutions, and emerging technologies through work with leading global brands.

• Professional Certifications: Training opportunities may lead to certifications in UX, UI, Agile methodologies, or specific platform expertise.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead design sprints, and grow into design leadership roles within VML.

• Cross-functional Learning: Gaining deeper insights into strategy, development, and client management through close collaboration with other disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are derived from the role's requirements and the context of working within a large, global agency on enterprise solutions, highlighting areas of potential difficulty and avenues for professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Problem Framing: "Describe a time you had to define a complex problem space with ambiguous requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, research, and how you brought clarity.)

• Stakeholder Influence: "How do you challenge and influence senior stakeholders who may have different priorities or a lower understanding of design principles? Provide an example." (Highlight your communication, data-backed arguments, and collaboration skills.)

• End-to-End Design: "Walk us through a project where you managed the entire design lifecycle, from initial UX strategy to high-fidelity UI. What were the key trade-offs you made?" (Emphasize your versatility and holistic approach.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• VML Values: "How do your personal work values align with VML's core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage? Can you give an example of how you've embodied one of these?" (Research the values and prepare specific anecdotes.)

• Collaboration: "Describe your ideal collaboration style when working with developers and strategists. How do you ensure a smooth handover and ongoing partnership?" (Focus on communication, empathy, and shared goals.)

• Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success and impact of your design work? What metrics do you typically track for digital products?" (Discuss conversion rates, engagement, user satisfaction, and ROI.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-4 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end capabilities, design system experience, and stakeholder management skills.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline: the challenge, your role, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions and rationale, and the measurable results/impact.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to demonstrate specific aspects of your Figma files – component structure, variants, prototyping, and collaboration features.

• Highlight Design System Expertise: Detail your experience with tokenized systems, component architecture, and how you ensure scalability and consistency.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be transparent about design decisions and the trade-offs you had to make, demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation focuses on common senior design role questions, emphasizing the skills and experiences highlighted in the job description, with specific advice for tailoring responses to VML.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer (UX/UI) position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to showcase end-to-end product design projects, focusing on complex problem-solving, design system utilization, and measurable outcomes. Ensure it highlights your UX strategy, interaction design, and UI execution capabilities.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your years of experience, key skills (Figma, design systems, stakeholder management), and achievements using keywords found in the job description. Quantify your impact wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and demonstrating your understanding of user-centric design and business impact. Prepare to discuss your experience with VML's core values.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research VML, WPP, and their recent work, particularly within Enterprise Solutions. Understand their approach to client partnerships, their design philosophy, and their impact on major brands to better align your application and interview responses.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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